Label severing and applying machine



Sept. 25, 1951 w. HOPPE 2,569,101

LABEL SEVERING AND APPLYING MACHINE Filed Nov. 12, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet lT INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Sept. 25, 1951 W. HOPPE LABEL SEVERING AND APPLYINGMACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 12, 1948 IL 1 MM Hopp:

+24% ATTORNEYS Sept. 25, 1951 w. HOPPE LABEL SEVERING AND APPLYINGMACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 12, 1948 A V 7 h l J O A Q 4 2 o 3 04 X w w E in. 4 5 6 u z a 1 INVENTOR 5 WILL/AM HoPPE ATTORNEYS Sept. 25,1951 w. HOPPE LABEL SEVERING AND APPLYING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledNov. 12, 1948 Sept. 25, 1951 w. HOPPE 2,569,101

' LABEL SEVERING AND APPLYING MACHINE Filed Nov. 12, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet5 INVENTOR MLZMM Hop/ WW 5 2M ATTORN EYS Sept. 25, 1951 w HQPPE2,569,101

, LABEL SEVERING AND APPLYING MACHINE Filed NOV. 12, 1948 @jga.

7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR .116 MM Hop/ ATTORNEYS Sept. 25, 1951 w, HQPPE2,569,101

LABEL SEVERING AND APPLYING MACHINE Filed Nov. 12, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 7INVENTOR ML L MM Home ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 25, 1951 LABEL SEVERIN GAND APPLYING MACHINE William Hoppe, Longmeadow', Mass., assignor toNational Bread Wrapping Machine 00., East Longmeadow, Mass., acorporation of Massachusetts Application November 12, 1948, Serial No.59,628

This invention relates to a labeling machine for applying labels to theends of articles and packages, such as wrapped loaves of bread, cartons,and similar packaged goods.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a so-called endlabeler which will accurately and securely place the labels on thepackages at a high rate of speed, which will at the same time meet asubstantial range of package and label sizes, which can be operatedinassociation with a wrapping machine and which will operate with labelscoated with heat activated adhesive, such as a thermoplastic material.

A further object is to provide a feeding mechanism for a web, fromwhichlabels are severed, which will accurately register the label webwith the cutting device which severs the labels and with a printingdevice for applying additional indicia at predetermined positions onpreviously printed labels just prior to the severance of the labels fromthe web. 7

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be madeapparent in the following specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of theinvention,

9 CIaimS. (Cl. 216-25) Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, the labelsupply reel being omitted;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view substantially on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan View, parts being broken away showing thelabel web feed;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the label feed and applying meanslooking from the right in-Fig. 1;

Fig. dis a viewsimilar to Fig. 4 but looking from the left of Fig. 1;

. Fig. 6 is asectional view substantially on line 6-45 of Fig. l;

:Fig. '7 is a detail sectional view substantially on line 1-'! of Fig.2; a

Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 7, thedriving pawl being in operative position; r

Fig. 9 is a detail plan view parts beingbroken away showing the drivingpawl in its out position;

Fig. 10 is a detail section of the overload release mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary detail view of the applying drum as shown inFig. 2,, but .on a larger scale and showing the label delivery device indischarging position;

; Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail view showing the relation of the feedingteeth of the applying drum to the discharge roll; and

Fig. 13 is a detail sectional view of the label roll support.

Referring to the drawings, more particularly Figs. 1 and 2, the machineis shown as comprising a frame I which supports a vertical drive shaft2, a vertical shaft 3 which carries the label applying drum 4 and avertical cam shaft 5.. Shafts 2, 3 and 5 carry sprockets 6, l and 8respectively which are connected by a sprocket chain 9 which also passesaround idler sprockets ll]. Sprockets 6 and i are fixed to theirrespective shafts so that the applying drum 4 is constantly driven.Sprocket 8 is rotatable on shaft 5 and is normally connected thereto bya clutch mechanism .later described, which is automatically thrown outin the absence of a package to be labeled.

Articles or packages to be labeled are carried past the applying drumlby a suitable conveyor II which may be the discharge conveyor of aWrapping machine, the applied labels being held against the package by apresser belt 12 passing around and driven by a pulley l3 secured todrive shaft 2 and around an idle pulley 14 mounted on a stub shaft [5.Belt I2 is preferably backed up by a plate [6 supported by the frame I.

Labels are supplied in the form of a web w Figs-3, 4 and 5, the webbeing provided with longitudinally spaced openings positioned inpredetermined relation to the line along which the web is to be cut toform individual labels in the form shown, the opposite edges of the webbeing notched as indicated at n, at the ends of the lines along whichthe web is subsequently'severed to form individual labels.

. The label web is drawn from a roll 1 carried on a rotatable reel ll(Fig. 13) rotatably mounted on a cantilever rod [8 extending fromastandard I9 bolted at 20 (Fig. 4) to frame member 2|. The reelcomprises flange members 22 adjustablysecured by screws 23 to a sleeveor hub 24 rotatably mounted on the rod la. The free end of rodI8is'reduced and threaded as at 25 to receive a knurled nut 26. A collar21' is slidably mounted on the reduced end of rod l8 and is held againstrotation by a set screw 28 threaded in therod and engaging in a key-way29 formed in the collar. A spring 30 compressed between nut 26. andcollar. 21 presses collar 21 against the end of sleeve 24 to exert africtional resistance to the rotation of the reel, which resistance canbe adjusted by advancing or retracting theknurled. nut '26.

As best shown in Fig. 5 the label web is drawn from the reel around aregistration drum 3|, around stationary guide rolls 32, and over an ad-J'ustable roll 33 to feed rolls 34 and 35.

The registration .drum 3| and feed rolls 34 and 35 are intermittentlydriven from cam shaft 8 through a short shaft 36, Fig. 4, journaled inframe member 2| and plate member 31 supported in spaced relation tomember 2| by bolts 38. Outwardly of plate 31 to shaft 36 carries a bevelgear 39 meshing with a bevel gear 40 carried at the upper end of camshaft 5. As best shown in Fig. 6, shaft 36 carries a gear 41 whichmeshes with a gear 42 on a short shaft 43' to which is fixed a doubleGeneva crank 44 driving a Geneva wheel 45 secured to shaft 46 whichcarries the registration drum 3|. Shaft 46 also carries a sprocket 41which drives a chain 48 passing around a takeup sprocket 49, an idler50, and (see Fig. 4) a sprocket 5| mounted ona stub shaft 52. As shownin the latter figure shaft 52 also carries a gear 53 which drivesintermeshing gears 54 and 55 on the respective shafts of feed rolls 35and 34 to drive the latter in timed relation with drum 3| Feed roll 34iscarried in a frame 56 which also carries web guide 51 and is securedto a pivot rod. 58. The latter is provided at one end, Fig. 5, with anarm 59, to which is connected a tension spring 60 urging roll 34 towardroll 35 to feed the wrapper web downwardly.

As best shown. in Figs. 3 and 5 the registration drum 3| is providedadjacent its edges with circumferentially spaced. pins 6| adapted. toenter the notches n at the edges of the label. The circumferentialspacing. of the pins at their base is made slightly less than thedistance between the centers of successive notches in the edges of theweb.. Since the drum is driven in. the direction of web travel the drumtends to advance the web. The mainfeed rolls 3 4 and 35, however, aredriven to draw the web forwardly at a slightly greater speed than thesurface speed of the .drum with the result that the web overruns thedrum to bring the trailing edge of the notches n against the leadingpair of pins 6| just prior to withdrawal of the latter from. the notches(Fig. 5). The advance of the web is thus reduced. to the surface speedof the drum, the frictional feed rolls 34--35, which are formed withsmooth metal surfaces slipping easily on the surface of the web untilthe leading pair of pins are released from the notches. The tensionadjustment on the label reel, previously described, assists inmaintaining a proper tension on the web to secure the best functioningof the registering drum. The pins thus function to modify the feedingaction of the drawing rolls to'accurately maintain the registry of thelabels with the label cutter and label modifying means such as theprinting means shortly to be described. The registering drum constructedand operated as above described has substantial advantages over previousconstructions in which registering projections are made to conform tothe size and shape of the notches. The relatively small pins enter thenotches without danger or tendency to tear or damage the edges of. thenotches due to slight variation in the spacing. of the notches due toshrinkage or expansion of the web or other causes.

From the feed rolls 3435 the leading label projects into a carriergenerally indicated at 62 in Figs. 5 and 6, and is severed by a shearingcutter carried by spaced plate members 63 and 64, the latter beingadjustably connected by a guidemaintained by registration pins 6|.

spline 65 and bolt 66 to the lower end of frame member 2|, as shown inFig. 5. As best shown in Fig. 6 the plate members 63 and 64 carry afixed shear blade 61 cooperating with movable shear blade 68 secured byscrews 69 to an angle member 10. Member 10 is pivoted at H to the lowerend of a lever 12 which is secured intermediate its ends on a rock shaft13. A spring 14 positioned between one arm of angle member 10 and lever12 tends to maintain blade 68 in shearing relation with fixed blade 61.Lever 12 is rocked to move blade 68 in shearing relation with blade 61by a cam 15 secured to shaft 36 and engaged by a roll 16 carried by onearm 1'! of a bell crank pivoted at 18. The other arm 19 of the bellcrank carries an adjustable screw 60 which engages the upper end portionof lever 12. A spring 8| connected between a pin 82 extending from thehub of the bell crank and a pin 83 extending from the pivot point oflever 12 acts to hold r011 16 against cam '15 and. tomaintain screw inoperative engagement with the upper end oflever 12.

As will be apparent from. Fig. 5 the proper adjustment of guide roll.33, which is carried by a pivoted arm. 84 held in adjusted. position bybolt 85, and the adjustment .of plate 64 on spline 65, will establishthe desired registration of the cutter with respect to the line of outwhich is to be For con venience in threading the web, and in adjustingthe various parts, shaft 36 is extended (Fig. 1) beyond bevel gear 39and is provided with a hand wheel 86 by which shaft 36 and. the partsdriven therefrom may be manually mani ulated.

It is frequently desirable to modify the label as by printing orperforating thereon additional data relating to specific articles, or tothe contents of the packages being wrapped, such as number, color, type,size, or the date of packing, or the like, etc., a special blank areafor receiving this date being frequently provided on the label toreceive this data. In Fig. 5, by way of example, is shown a printingblock 81 for this purpose. The printing block is releasably carried by amember 88 formed with slideway 89 receiving a block 90 pivoted at 9| toframe member 2|. An arm 92, secured to a rock shaft 93 is pivotallyconnected to memberv 88 at 94 to swing member 88 between the full lineposition in Fig.5, where the printing block 8'! is pressed into printingengagement with the label web as it passes over a stationary platen 95,and the dotted line position in Fig. 5 in which block 81 is pressedagainst an inking pad 96 releasably carried by a stationary bracket 91.Rock shaft 93 carries a gear 98, see Fig. 6, meshing. with a gearsegment 99 formed on the end of bell crank arm 11', which, as previouslydescribed is oscillated .by cam 75. The printing device is thus actuatedin timed relation with the cutter shear which also is actuated by cam.15, and thus the drum3| in maintaining the web is registration with thecutter also and simultaneously maintains the web in registration withthe printer.

As the label is severed it. is positioned in the swinging carrier 62,between spaced plates Hi0 and |0|, the lower edge of the label restingon a spacer I02. Plates I00 and |0| with. spacer |02 are secured to anarm Hi3, Fig. 2, pivoted at an intermediate point on a vertical pivotpin I64. Arm |03 carries a cam roll I05 engaging a, cam 06 (Fig. 1)fixed to the lower end of cam shaft 5, rollv I05 being held against thecam by a spring I01 tensioned between arm I03 and a pin.I08

secured-in the frame. r

The arrier 62 is in the position shown in Fig. 2 when' l t receives thesevered label, the latter as indicated in broken line extendingoutwardly beyond the end of plate IOI with its adhesively coated isidetoward plate I00. A boss I09 is formedon the end of arm I03, in which isrotatably mounted a vertical stub shaft IIO carrying at its upper end atoothed wheel I I I. Wheel II.I extending through a slot I I2 formed inplate I00 as bestf shown in Figs. 2 and 11. From the position in Fig. 2,the carrier with its label is swung toward the label applying drum 4 topres the end of -the label against the surface of the drum. The surfaceof the drum is vertically fluted as indicated at H3. The teeth of wheelIII enter slightly'into the flutesII3 (Fig. 12) and. since drum 4 isconstantly driven as previously described ,'the label is fed from thecarrier 62 and carried by drum 4 over a shoe I.I4 which softens oractivates the heat sensitive adhesivewith which the-back of the label iscoated. As shown in Figthe cam I06 is so'formed as-at a: to

allow the end of the label to be pressed firmly againstdrum 4 to assureprompt'initialfeeding of'the label, the pressure beingrelieved slightlyat y toi'assure a smoothand easy advance of the label over the shoe II4.Shoe I I4 is. carried by a bracketI I5, Fig. 1, by means of pinsI I6which extendzithrough suitable openings inthe bracket.

Springs 1 I1 surrounding pins I I6 and compressed betwee'ni rthe bracketand the shoe yieldingly press the latter toward the drum 4, cotter pinsII8 limiting the inward movement of pins I I6.

As the drum carries the label beyond the shoe,

Fig. .2-,' 'j it is pressed into adherin contact with the package pbeing advanced by belt II. Fingers M9, the ends of which ride incircumferential grooves I (Figs. 3 and 5), assure that the label is.stripped from the drum. The applied label isheld against the package inits further travel by belts I2 until the adhesive sets; As shown in Fig.11 drum 4 is provided with a vertical groove I2I positioned to underliethe leading edge of the label. Groove I2I provides an edge over whichthe edge of the label is slightly bent affording a gripping action whichtendsto prevent rearward slippage. This inward bending of the'labeliedge is very slight and does not interferewith the operation ofstrippers II9 and in fact the freedom of the edge of the label over itsentire length prevents anytendencyof the strippers to dent or tear theedge of. thelabel from impact as would be the case if the label edgewere rigidly held at each side of the strippers when the latterfirst'strike the label to direct it in a tangential path.

There is some tendency for'toothed wheel vI II to pick upgum from thelabel, so to free said wheel from any accumulation of gum a scraperblade I22 is mounted'on arm I03. Blade I22 is formed with a slot I23through which the peripheral portion of wheel I I I rotates with aminimum of clearance, thereby removing any excess accumulation ofadhesive.

In the. normal operation of the machine with an uninterrupted flow ofpackages to be labeled the machine operates continuously to .feed,print, out and apply a label at each rotation oftbe cam shaft 5. In theevent that the flow of packages is interrupted and no package ispresented to receive a label it is desirable that the cycle of the labelforming and applying operations be correspondingly interrupted. I

mechanism. Referring to Figs. 1, 8 and 9,

6 As previously stated continuously {driven sprocket 8 drives cam shaft5 through a clutch sprocket 8, which is rotatably mounted on cam adaptedt0 e a shoulder I26 formed' in a,

- collar I21 fixed to cam shaft 5. The upper end maintain portion I indriving relation with shoulder I26. A cam I32 secured to the hub ofsprocket 8 is formed with a recessedportion I33. A lever I34, see Fig.2, is pivoted intermediat its ends at I35. One end of lever I34 carriesa cam roll I36 urged into enga ement with cams I32 by a tension springI31 connected to the end of lever I34 and a stationary pin I38. Theopposite end of lever I34 is provided with a feeler finger I39 which inthe presence of a package or article in position on conveyor II toreceive a labeliin the ensuing cycle of the machine engages such-articleand prevents cam roll I36 from enteringl recess I33. In the event apackage or article is absent from such position cam roll I36 enterstheirecess I 33 under the action of spring I31. Lever I34 carries a tripmember I which, when roll I36 is permitted to enter recess I33, ispositidned i'n the path of dog I28 to rock the latter andswing portionI25 out of engagement with shoulder I26,

1 as shown in Fig. 9, thereby releasing sprocket 8 I25 rides on thesurface of collar I21 and upon der I26 if feeler I39 finds a package orarticle in completing its revolution will again engage-shoulposition'tobe labeled, otherwise dog I28 will again engage trip I40. Sprocket 8will thus remain stationary unconnected to shaft 5 until feeler I39finds a package in position.

When the labeling device is attached to the delivery of a wrapping orpackaging machine it is sometimes desired to permit a series of packagesto pass the labeler without receiving labels. For this purpose amanually operated trip is pro- .vided in the form of a finger I Mcarried by a block I42 which is pivoted at I43 to a bracket the dottedline position in the latter figure, in which position finger MI ispositioned in the path of dog I 28 to trip the clutch at each successiverotation of sprocket 8, thereby preventing rotation of shaft 5 andrendering the label forming and applying mechanism inoperative untiltrip finger I is manually returned to inoperative position. A springactuated pin I45 engaging in openings I46 or I41 formed in bracket I44releasably retains the finger MI in its inoperative or operativeposition respectively.

Preferably clutch collar I21 is connected to shaft 5 through an overloadrelease mechanism best shown in Figs. 7 and 10. As there shown anannular member I48 is keyed to the lower end of collar I21 at I49. Belowmember I48 a hub I50 which carries cam I05 previously described issplined to shaft 5 at I5I Hub I50 carries a pivot pin I52 upon which ispivoted a bar I53 which is held against a slabbed off surface I54 onmember I48 by a relatively strong tension spring I55 connecting the freeend of bar I53 to a pin I55 carried by hub I50. As will be apparent, inthe event that the load on shaft 5 becomes excessive spring I55 willyield to permit bar I53" to ride off of the surface I54 and permitclutch collar [21, to rotate and thereby relieve shaft 5, from thedriving torque.

Whereit is desired to apply a label to opposite ends of the package themechanism above described may be duplicated on the opposite j side ofthe belt II. In any event the surface speed of the label applying drumor drums is approximately the same as the speed of advance of thearticle as it passes the drum so that there is no relative movementbetween the drum, label and package during the applying operation.

What I claim is:

1. A machine for severing and applying labels to packages whichcomprises, a roll for applying labels to a face of a package, means torotate said applying roll, a pair of drawing rolls for advancing a labelweb, a label carrier pivoted for swinging movement, said carrier in oneposition of its swinging movement being positioned to receive a leadingend portion of the label web advanced beyond said drawing rolls, meansbetween the drawing rolls and the carrier to sever the so-extendingportion of the web to form a label and means to swing the carrier withthe severed label therein from its last-named position to bring an edgeof the label into engagement with the applying roll to be frictionallyadvanced thereby into contact with the package.

. 2. A machine for severing labels from a web coated with heat activatedadhesive and applying the labels to packages which comprises, a roll forapplying labels to a face of a package, means to rotate said applyingroll, means for advancing a label web, an oscillating label carrier,said carrier in one position of its movement being positioned to receivethe leading end portion of the web, means to sever said portion to forma label, means to move the carrier with the severed label therein fromits last-named position to bring the non adhesive side of an edgeportion of the label into frictional feeding engagement with therotating applying roll to be advancedthereby into contact with thepackage, and a heated member between which and the roll the label isadvanced prior to its engagement with the package to'activate theadhesive on the exposed face of the label.

3. A machine for severing and applying labels to packages whichcomprises, a roll mounted for rotation about a-vertical axis, forapplying labels to a face of a package, means to rotate said applyingroll, a pair of drawing rolls for advancing a label web, a label carrierpivoted for swinging movement in a plane at right angles to the direc:-tion of feedof the drawing rolls and about an axis parallel to the axisof rotation of the applying roll, said carrier in one position of itsswinging movement being positioned to receive a leading end portion ofthe label web advanced beyond said drawing rolls, means between thedrawing rolls and the carrier to sever the so-extending portion of theweb to form a label, and mean to swing the carrier with the severedlabel therein from its last-named position to bring-a vertical side edgeportion of the label into frictional feed;-

ing engagement with the applying roll.

4. A machine for severing and applying labels to packages whichcomprises, a roll for applying labels to a face of a package, means torotate said applying roll, a pair of drawing rolls for advancing a labelweb, a label carrier pivoted for swinging movement, said carrier in oneposition of its swinging movement being positioned to receive theleading end portion of the label web advanced beyond said drawing rolls,means between the drawing rolls and the carrier to sever theso-extending portion of the web to form a label, means to swing thecarrier with the severed label therein from its last-named position tobring an edge portion of the label into engagement with the surface ofthe applying roll, and a freely rotatable roll mounted adjacent the edgeof the carrier to press said edge portion of the label intofrictional'feeding engagement with the applying roll to be drawn therebyfrom the carrier and advanced into contact with the package.

5.. A machine for severing and applying labels to packages whichcomprises, a roll for applying labels to a face of the package, means toconstantly rotate said applying roll, a pair of drawing rolls foradvancing a label web, a constantly driven shaft, means forintermittently driving said drawing rolls from said constantly drivenshaft, cutting means to sever a leading end portion of the web advancedby and beyond said drawing rolls to form a label, a cam constantlydriven from said constantly driven shaft for actuating said cuttingmeans, a pivoted carrier for transporting the severed label from thecutter to said applying roll and cam means carried by said constantlyrotating shaft for actuating said carrier.

6. A machine for severing and applying labels to packages whichcomprises, a roll for applying labels to a face of a package, thesurface of said roll being formed with a multiplicity of axiallyextending flutes, means to rotate said applying roll, a pair of drawingrolls for advancing a label. web, a label carrier pivoted for swingingmovement in a plane at right angles to the direction of feed of thedrawing rolls, said carrier in one position of its swinging movementbeing positioned to receive a leading end portion of the label webadvanced beyond said drawing rolls, means between the drawing rolls andthe carrier to sever the so-extending portion of the web to form alabel, means to swing the carrier from its last-named position to bringan edge portion of the label into engagement with the surface of theapplying roll and a member supported by the carrier to superficiallypress the label into the flutes on the applying roll to cause the labelto be drawn from the carrier by, the applying roll and advanced therebyinto contact with the package.

7. A machine for severing and applying labels to packages whichcomprises, means for applying labels to a face of a package, a pair ofdrawing rolls for advancing a label web, cutting means to sever aleading end portion of the web advanced by and beyond said drawing rollsto form a label, means engaging the web rearwardly of the drawing rollsto cause a predetermined slippage of the web relative to the drawingrolls to maintain successive predetermined portions of the web inregistration with the cutting means. and a carrier for transporting thesevered label from the cutter to the applying means.

. 8. A machine for severing and applying labels to a package whichcomprises, rotary means for applying labels to a face of a package, apair of drawing rolls for advancing a label web, cutting means to severa leading end portion of the web advanced by and beyond said drawingrolls to form a label, registration means engaging theweb rearwardly ofthe drawing rolls to cause a predetermined slippage of the web relativeto the drawing rolls to maintain successive predetermined portions ofthe web in registration with the cutting means, a pivoted carrier fortransporting the severed label from the cutter to the applying means, ashaft, means to constantly rotate said shaft and said applying means, acommon drive for intermittently operating said drawing rolls and saidregistration means, and a one revolution clutch connecting said commondrive to said shaft and means to disengage the clutch in the absence ofpackages to be labeled.

9. In a machine for severing labels from label webs havinglongitudinally spaced openings therein, which webs are to be severed onlines having a predetermined position relative to said opening, a pairof drawing rolls frictionally engaging the opposite faces of the web toadvance the latter, means for driving said rolls, a drum around whichthe web is drawn by the rolls, circumferentially spaced pins extendingfrom the surface of the drum of less diameter than said l0 openings toloosely engage in the web openings, the bases of the pins being spacedfrom each other a distance slightly less than the spacing of the webopenings they are to enter, web severing means positioned to sever alabel from the Web at a point beyond the drawing rolls and. means todrive the drum at a surface speed less than that of the drawing rollswhereby the trailing edge of the web openings are brought into contactwith said pins to reduce the speed of web travel to that of the drum andbring the web openings into predetermined registering relation with thecutter.

WILLIAM HOPPE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Schlemmer Dec. 16, 1941

